Research Scientist / Research Engineer — Early Career Cohort

You will join OpenAI as a full-time Research Scientist / Research Engineer based in San Francisco, CA.

The first month consists of a structured research bootcamp where participants work closely with researchers across the organization before selecting a permanent research team.

This role follows a hybrid, in-person collaboration schedule in San Francisco. Relocation assistance may be available.

This role is designed for early-career individuals, especially current undergraduate students and recent graduates.

Strong candidates often demonstrate this through technical competitions, research, or ambitious independent projects.

You might be:

• A top competitor in mathematics or programming competitions (e.g., Olympiads, Putnam, ICPC, or similar contests)

• A top performer in an OpenAI-hosted Challenge or similar

• A mathematician, physicist, or quantitative researcher interested in the foundations of intelligence

• A builder or hacker who has created ambitious technical systems or research prototypes

• An exceptional early-career engineer or researcher with strong technical intuition

If you’ve done well in competitions such as the IMO, EGMO, IOI, Putnam, ICPC, or similar contests, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated exceptional mathematical or algorithmic problem-solving ability

• Strong ability to reason about complex technical or mathematical systems

• Comfort with linear algebra, probability, statistics, and optimization

• Evidence of rapid independent learning and technical creativity

• Ability to obtain and maintain authorization to work in the United States by the program start date. Candidates who cannot secure appropriate work authorization by the start date may not be eligible for this cohort.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates often demonstrate this ability through:

• High-level results in Olympiads, Putnam, ICPC, or similar competitions

• Top or novel performance in an OpenAI-hosted Challenge or similar

• Research in mathematics, algorithms, theoretical computer science, physics, or machine learning

• Independent projects exploring machine learning systems, algorithms, or AI research

Application and Interview Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The cohort is expected to start on June 3, 2026.⁠